ITV advertising defies the economic gloom

No signs of a downturn at ITV despite fears about the wider economy, after yesterday's shock 0.5% fall in UK output.

Early estimates from media buyers suggest ITV advertising should be up around 10% in February and 6% in March - despite Easter, a crucial buying season, falling late this year.

Ad revenue at ITV first returned to monthly growth in December 2009 after a brutal recession and has kept growing since. The fact the broadcaster looks to be four months into a second consecutive year of growth indicates advertisers still have confidence in a sustained recovery.

BSkyB should give further clues when it posts half-year results tomorrow.

Neil still gets under Murdoch's skin

Former Sunday Times editor Andrew Neil still has the ability to irk Rupert Murdoch.

His old employer is furious that media regulator Ofcom, in its report warning that the News Corp takeover of BSkyB might not be in the public interest, cited testimony from Neil that Murdoch is not the most hands-off of proprietors.

"Ofcom quotes vague evidence from Andrew Neil (widely reported in the press as having left his position as editor of the Sunday Times in 1994 'on bad terms') in support of its arguments," says News Corp in a whopping 216-page response to the regulator, "but does not refer at all to the direct oral evidence provided to Ofcom by John Witherow (editor of the Sunday Times since 1994) who reported that no editorial influence whatsoever was exercised by News over the content of the Sunday Times."

Neil has been too busy to look at News Corp's response but tells me: "I left the Sunday Times on excellent terms and of my own volition... so I've no idea what they're talking about."

BBC on the home front

Today's cull of up to 650 jobs at BBC World Service is worse than expected.

This column suggested last week that the cuts could mean World Service and Radio 4 will have to share more programming. That fits with R4 boss Gwyneth Williams' declaration this week that she wants to increase foreign coverage. Some World Service staff fear "domestic" BBC is taking priority over them

Seat empty on Scott Trust

Guardian journalists are about to elect a new member of editorial staff to represent them on the Scott Trust, not-for-profit owner of the Left-wing paper.

Five contenders - four of them women - are bidding to replace economics editor Larry Elliott. The trust has a mandate to protect the Guardian - but not sister paper the Observer - in perpetuity.

This matters because Guardian Media Group lost £171 million last year and might sell a stake in car classifieds business Auto Trader to support the papers.

Lambert toes line for BBC chair

Departing CBI boss Sir Richard Lambert ought to have done his chances of becoming BBC chairman no harm with a sharp attack on executive pay in the business world.

Lambert also criticised the new Government's economic record, which further boosts his credentials as an independent figure. The former Financial Times editor's media background and business nous ought to give him an edge over another rumoured contender for the BBC chairmanship, Chris Patten.

For the first time, MPs on the culture, media and sport select committee will hold a "pre-appointment" hearing with the successful candidate on March 10.

Sky tells its story in film

While the row about the News Corp takeover rages, the show must go on at Sky TV, which is getting in the mood for its coverage of the Oscars with a season of former Academy Award-winning films.

These include Gladiator, Inglourious Basterds and Road To Perdition - all of which are rather apt descriptions of News Corp's tussle with regulator Ofcom over the Sky deal. And not a bad way to describe the dramas surrounding Sky Sports' sacking of football commentator Andy Gray either